Master of Divinity (MDiv)

As part of your MDiv studies, you may focus your coursework on a subject area of particular interest. From race and gender to environmental stewardship and justice, our concentrations organize your learning journey and provide space for fellowship with faculty and students who share your interests and concerns.

The following concentrations are available:

• Black Church Studies
• Christian-Jewish Studies
• Lutheran Studies
• Public Theology
• Reformed Theology
• Theology, Ecology, and Faith Formation
• Theology, Women, and Gender

The Master of Divinity requires successful completion of 78 credits from six primary categories. Students take at least three courses from each academic department of the Seminary.

Foundation Courses (20 credits)

• Introductions or Foundations in the following areas (18 credits):
  • Biblical Studies: OT 2102 – Orientation to Old Testament and Exegesis, NT 2102 – Orientation to New Testament and Exegesis
  • History and Ecumenics: WCCH 2102 – World Christian History I, WCCH 2103 – World Christian History II
  • Theology: Doing Christian Theology
  • Practical Theology: A course in either Education and Formation or Pastoral Care
• Speech Communication in Ministry I and II (2 credits)

Additional Department Courses (20 credits)

• One close reading of the text course in Biblical Studies
• One elective course in History and Ecumenics
• One doctrine course in Theology
• One Ethics course or Constructive Theology course
• Introduction to Preaching course
• One elective course in Practical Theology in remaining area of Education and Formation

Core Commitment Courses (15 credits)

One course from each of the following categories:

• A Life Together course
• A Theological Imagination course
• A course designated as fulfilling the Christian Leadership: Church, Religion, and Society core commitment
• A course designated as fulfilling the Renewal of Creation, Self, and Communities core commitment
• A course designated as fulfilling the Spiritual Practices of the Faith core commitment

Field Education (5 credits)

• Students must complete a 5-credit Field Education sequence, which includes one required placement and a concurrent practicum. 

General Elective Courses (18+ credits)

Sample Courses

• Ethics and the Problem of Evil
• Political Theologies – Beyond Liberation?
• Divine Omniscience and Human Freedom
• Modern Christology
• The Idea of Pentecost

Overview

Field education at Princeton Theological Seminary is a formative and learner-centered component of every MDiv, MACEF, and Dual Degree program. Through supervised ministry in church-related contexts, students explore, deepen, and refine their vocational identity in conversation with mentors, peers, and the Seminary community.

Structure

Field Education Requirements

Students must complete a 5-credit Field Education sequence, which includes one required placement and a concurrent practicum (eligible for a $4,000 fellowship):

• Required Placement (4 credits):
  Completed during the second or third year, this placement takes place at a church-related site within the United States and must be approved by the Office of Field Education and Vocational Placement (OFEVP).
• Field Education Practicum (1 credit):
  Taken alongside the required placement, the practicum consists of ten in-person sessions focused on theological reflection, vocational discernment, and collaborative learning with peers.

Additional Requirements

• First-Year Seminars (non-credit):
  All students must attend two mandatory seminars in their first year:
  • “Nuts & Bolts of Field Ed” (Fall)
  • “Clergy Boundaries and Sexual Ethics” (Spring)

Optional Opportunities

• Elective Placements (2 credits each):
  Students may pursue additional field education placements during the summer or academic year for elective credit. One elective placement may be eligible for a $4,000 fellowship.

Students will have opportunities to learn about the program structure and the placements available to them through required meetings with their field education advisor and other regularly scheduled information sessions hosted by the Office of Field Education and Vocational Placement.

Student Agency and Support

Field education at Princeton Seminary is co-created: students are invited to approach this experience with intentionality, articulating their learning goals and discerning the kind of setting and supervision that will best nurture their calling. The OFEVP partners with each student to identify placements and supervisors that support this discernment journey.

Exceptions

Students with a strong vocational case for a non-church-related placement may petition for an exception in consultation with the OFEVP and their faculty mentor

To qualify for admission, you must have an undergraduate degree (typically a BA or BS) from a school accredited by one of the accrediting agencies recognized by our faculty. Please submit the following:

• A completed admissions application
• Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions previously attended
• Three letters of recommendation: one pastoral endorsement, one academic, and one additional
• Application fee of $50
• English Proficiency Test Scores (for International Applicants only)

Interviews are not required but are strongly encouraged as they play a significant role in scholarship consideration. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, interviews are available once the application is submitted. International student interviews are by invitation only. Instructions and a link to schedule an interview will be provided to eligible candidates after application submission.